Gagen Blog

In an effort to help clients prepare for and seize opportunities created by massive global disruption, four major consultancies have announced a transformative joint offering born of a research-driven point of view that curious companies are more agile, and therefore better positioned for success. The integrated partnership includes APCO Worldwide, Gagen MacDonald, Oxford Analytica and the Boswell Group.

As instinctive as it can be to define a personal purpose, when it comes to defining a company’s purpose, I’ve seen many leaders face what I’ll call a “purpose paralysis.” Creating a purpose can be a daunting exercise, and therefore even brushed off. But leaders: don’t be paralyzed. I want you to know that you can do it—and that you must. Let’s get some collective peace of mind about purpose. Here are some of the biggest myths I encounter about purpose today.

In PR News' April 3, 2018 edition, Patricia Bayerlein of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) Measurement Commission wrote about the importance of creating engaging employee experiences, which boost internal engagement and profitability. Companies with engaged employees, she wrote, see a 29 percent increase in operating income, according to Aon Hewitt, the global consulting firm.

In our hyperconnected world, it can feel like we’re plugged-in and on-the-go around the clock. Like many of us, I keep a busy schedule and it’s easy to feel worn out. When I feel this burnout occurring, I loop back to an insight based not only on my own experience, but scores of research over the years: happiness doesn’t come from our circumstances, but rather how we choose to view our circumstances. Happiness is a mindset and a choice.

We’re approaching the season when many large organizations begin an annual ritual intended to produce big ideas for the year ahead. Yet strategic planning often gets hampered by budget constraints, legacy templates and insularity, to name a few obstacles. If these sound familiar to you, you’re not alone.

This year, we are celebrating Gagen MacDonald’s 20th anniversary (I couldn’t be more proud!). Our firm was founded on a passion for helping companies around the world unleash the power of their employees and overcome the human struggle of change. Marking this milestone has inspired me to reflect on what has kept the dream alive. As we celebrate, I wanted to take this opportunity to divulge our Silent Partner with you.

Many senior leaders face this dilemma: They understand the success of business transformation hinges on effective internal communications. They understand employees want and expect to trust their company’s leaders. But they also understand that trust is not automatic, particularly in times of nonstop change. So how to bridge the gap quickly, given the speed of change and velocity of information flow reaching employees each day?

In an era of non-stop business transformation, many organizations are meeting the challenge by improving processes, more strategically utilizing their internal HR talent, and creating an employee experience that serves as a competitive advantage in the war for talent. So much simultaneous change can result in a holistic strategy to update HR systems and approaches…

Every day, targeted marketing leverages an individual’s tendencies and preferences to impact behavior. Most people would admit to being influenced to buy something they didn’t really need or try something they didn’t really want. In a world transformed by data analytics and behavioral economics, how can organizations use that information responsibly to effect culture change,…

Gagen MacDonald had the privilege of sponsoring The Conference Board’s 16th annual conference on Change & Transformation in New York City on June 14–15. The following key takeaways are from our founder and CEO, Maril MacDonald. Her original post can be found here. For those of us who spend our days trying to drive transformation…